The University of California released a detailed evaluation of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting key strategies, observations and areas for future improvement.

Titled “Connected: Lessons from UC Systemwide COVID-19 Responses," the report captures many of the lessons learned during the pandemic and aims to make them actionable. The information is designed to inform and strengthen the decisions made by future UC leaders, employees and students, and is available to California public health leaders and officials at other academic health systems to help support health security preparedness planning.

A key finding is that systemwide policies informed by campus experts significantly reduced the variation of experience across all locations, ultimately protecting UC populations. An analysis indicates that significantly lower excess mortality was observed during the public health emergency among UC employees compared with the overall California employed population.

The report details the collaborative efforts across the UC system, which spans ten campuses, six academic health centers and numerous research facilities, to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Details describe how the University quickly mobilized resources, implemented safety protocols and adapted educational delivery methods to ensure continuity of learning while safeguarding the health of students, faculty and staff.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of California community demonstrated remarkable adaptability and commitment to well-being of Californians,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. “This report reflects on our experiences and serves as a blueprint for future preparedness and response to public health emergencies.”

“Health security preparation and response is our public service mission in action. The UC system has the capacity to face a challenge as great as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and to respond in a way that protects the lives of its communities. This work contributed to public health across the state by activating UC’s expertise, resources and innovation,” said Carrie L. Byington, M.D., former UC Health executive vice president and current clinical professor, Department of Pediatrics and a member of the Human Milk Institute and PREPARE Institute at UC San Diego.

Other highlights from the report include:

• Rapid transition to remote learning: Within days of the initial lockdown in March 2020, UC campuses transitioned to remote instruction. Faculty members received training and resources to facilitate online learning, ensuring that students had access to quality education despite the circumstances.
• Health and safety protocols: The University implemented robust health and safety measures, including masking, rapid testing, wastewater surveillance, contact tracing, improvements in ventilation, and vaccination campaigns. These efforts, in addition to health-related policies supporting COVID leave, were crucial for maintaining a safer environment for students and employees and minimizing the spread of the virus on campuses.
• Virtual care expansion: Virtual care became a vital component of UC’s health system response to the COVID-19 pandemic as UC academic health centers and faculty ambulatory practices pivoted to and grew virtual visit capabilities early in the pandemic, including those for primary care, specialty services and mental health visits, as well as in inpatient settings. Tele-ICU services allowed UC specialists to support community partner hospitals with virtual rounds and video consultations.
• Data-driven equity and inclusion: The report emphasizes the importance of data use and analysis in formulating equitable response strategies. UC prioritized support for underrepresented and marginalized groups. Aggregation of data in the UC Health Data Warehouse, which was relatively new at the start of the pandemic, enabled this work and demonstrated the value of collection of uniform data to manage operations and enhance outcomes.
• Research and innovation: UC researchers played a pivotal role in addressing the pandemic, contributing to advancements in vaccine development, public health strategies, and understanding the virus’s impacts. The University’s commitment to research innovation was a cornerstone of its response.

The report emphasizes the need for ongoing evaluation and adaptation of emergency response strategies. It encourages UC campuses to consider the creation of a chief health security officer to lead preparedness and response efforts during future public health emergencies, as well as continuing to foster collaboration, invest in data aggregation and reporting technology, and strengthen collaborations between the University and public health officials.

About University of California Health

University of California Health comprises six academic health centers, 21 health professional schools, a Global Health Institute and systemwide services that improve the health of patients and the University’s students, faculty and employees. All of UC’s hospitals are ranked among the best in California and its medical schools and health professional schools are nationally ranked in their respective areas.